Laundry machine



J. B. KIRBY LAUNDRY MACHINE Aug. 7, 1934.

Filed March 10, 1927 booooooooo ooooo'ooo 0000 00 0000 000 o o o ooooo d Qooooooo oooooooooa ga James B. K-xrbg Inventor Attornegs Patented A 7 I934;

a James B. Kirby, West Richfield, by meme-assignments, to The "Ohio, assignor, Apex, Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, as trustee 1 Application March 10, 1921, Serial o. 174,208.

3 Claims. (Cl. 210-63) M I and stifi'ened by a suitable rim element 15 securely This invention relates to laundry machines and has for its objects the provision of an improved construction and mounting of extracting device; the provision of an extractor '1 increased rigid- 6 ity and stability anddecreased vibration; the provision of new and improved expedients for supporting such an extractor and accommodating its vibration; the provision of a new and improved type of extractor unit adapted for use with other and independent laundry equipment; while further objects together with a clearer definition of those objects above named will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application I have illustrated certain simple, physical embodiments of my inventive idea although it will be understood that the drawing is intended to be merely illustrative of the principles of my invention, and not limiting upon me as regards proportions, constructions, or modes of application.

Fig. l is a top plan view of a series of set-tubs having one of my improved extractors applied thereto; Fig. 2 is spending substantially to the line 22 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations showing alternative constructions of the'centrifuge element; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view corresponding to the line 55 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 illustrates a modified type of support.

My improved laundry machine as herein constructed comprises a rigid member 1 carrying an upright journal bearing 2 and a sheet metal casing 3 having a drain pipe 4. .Journaled in the bearing 2 is a shaft 5 operatively connected by any suitable driving mechanism with an electric motor 6 carried by the member 1. For the purpose of convenience I have here illustrated a friction drive, but any known mechanical movement can be employed. The upper end of the shaft is squared or fluted as shown at 7 for the reception of the centrifuge container. This container is preferably made with a circular bottom member" formed with a central elevated hollow boss 10, and a peripheral upright wall 11 spaced radially therefrom, the two defining an annular upwardlyfacing trough 12. The top of the boss terminates in a cap 13 which is recessed for the tight reception of the upper end of the shaft 5, and the boss is hollow beneath so that the bearing rises a substantial distance into the container. Secured to the outer wall 11-is the sheet metal side wall 14 of the container which is characterized by being largest at the bottom and becoming narrower with increasing height, its top being surmounted openings .18 at its point of a central sectional view corre-- aflixed thereto and defining a. central'circular opening 1.6 forthe reception of centrifuged.

. This container. is formed elsewhere also if desired Fig. in the wall 11 as shown in Fig.

the articles to be 2 or may be con- ,with' water discharge 00 greatest diameter (and as indicated at 19 in 4) and these apertures may be formed either fined to the sheet metal part 14 as illustrated in '6 Fig. 3 or may be formed in be ever, it is preferred to omit the th places. Howapertures 19, and

form, only such apertures adjacent to the point of largest diameter as are necessary for the discharge of the liquid at that point, inasmuch as any I. unnecessary perforations increase the liability, of

injury to the fabrics by enga edges thereof.

gement with" the Furthermore the formation of the side walls of the container of downwardly flaring shape facilitates the use of imperforate sheet 76 metal since the downward slant of the walls causes the acceleration of gravi the centrifugal force tending to ty to be added-to extract the water from the fabrics inside the container. It is also possible, and in some cases side walls of vertically corrugat shown in Figs. 3 and charge of the water by providin ed sheet metal as 5, thus facilitating the disg channels for its flow. In this case the water discharge openings 18 should be formed at the nels (looking from within), and

the same need be only of very narrow dimensions, which reduces the likelihood of the clothes becoming caught therein, while affording adequate egress for the liquid.

For supporting this machine I preferably provide a frame 20 having hooks 21 to engage the lip of a laundry tub, such as the set-tubs illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, combined with a. bracing part wall of such tubs 22 adapted to engage the outer and hold the frame rigidly.

hooks 2121 are provided, spaced apart so as to Preferably two straddle a tub partition if desired, as showfi in Fig. 1, and also to facilitate the of the device to the side of a if desired. The frame is also horizontal portion 23 to which ready application provided with a the member 1 is attached by means of a flexibly yielding element 24 such as a rubber cushion which shall permit desirable, to form the .0.

bottoms of the chanl circular wash tub a limited gyrator movement of the bearing and centrifuge so as to compensate in substantial degree for an unbalanced arr articles therein. It is within substitute floor legs 25 for the br in Fig. 6.

angement of the my invention to acket 20 as shown Inasmuch as the rigid with the bearing 2.. said gyrate along with the bearingand container, but'being made light and of smallinertia, such gyration exhibits. no injurious effect. Furthermore the heavy parts. such as the motor and driving mechanism. are located close to thecushion so that'the leverage exerted thereby is at a minimum. The upwardly tapering shape of the container iurtheracts to reduce the gyrating tendency, partly by compelling a more central insertion of the articles. and partly by holdingW-the articles nearer th'e axis of rotation at that part of the container which is furthest from "the bearing. namely at the top. It will be apparent upon consideration that the in- Jurious effect of any unbalance weight will be lessat the botom of the container where the leverage upon the bearing is small than at the top of the container where the leverage is comparatively great. The upwardly tapering shape also produces a more rigid container structure for a given weight of metal, facilitates the extraction of the liquid. and tends to pack the articles closer to the bottom of the container as the liquid is exracted. I i I It'will be understood that many changes in shape, detail and construction can be made within the scope of my invention, and that certain of the different ideas herein disclosed can be used independently of other of said ideas, wherefore I do. not. limit myself except as specifically set forth in my several claims which are intended to be construed each independently of limitations contained in other claims. v

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: 1/ y I 1. A casing for a centrifuge having an upright bearing rigidly secured in its bottom, a supporting frame. and a flexiye/cushioning element connecting said frame and casing adjacent to said bearing.

2; The combination with a bearing, of a frame. a flexible element connecting said frame and bearing and adapted to permit limited gyratory movement of said bearing, a'motor rigid with said bearing. a centrifuge iournaled to said bearing. acasing rigid with said bearing and surrounding said centrifuge, driving connections between said motor and centrifuge. and means for securing said frame detachably to a laundry tub.

3. In a laundry machine, an extractor, a casing therefor, a driving device. and a supporting frame, said extractor, casing, and driving device constituting a unit. means flexibly securing such 

